PONTYPOOL GYMNAST NAMED BRITISH CHAMPION

Welsh gymnast Maisie Methuen has claimed the title of 2016
Junior All-Around Champion at the 2016 British Championships in
Liverpool's Echo Arena (8th April).

The 14-year-old from Pontypool claimed the top spot following a
solid competition on all four apparatus - vault, beam, uneven bars
and floor - improving on her result from this time last year when
she claimed Silver at the 2015 British Championships.

Methuen secured a personal best all score of 54.600, smashing
her highest score to date of 54.198 at the Welsh Championships in
Cardiff in March.

Speaking to the BBC after being awarded with her medal and
trophy, Maisie said: "It's amazing to have won. I tried to stay
calm throughout podium training and the competition went well. I've
been working on improving the difficulty of my routines and I guess
today that paid off! I'm really happy to be Junior Champion as it
gives me the confidence to continue to train hard. I become Senior
next year and want to be able to hold my own against the older
girls."

Methuen trains 30 hours a week at Sport Wales National Centre in
Cardiff under the watchful eye of National Women's Coach, Tracey
Skirton. "I'm thrilled for Maisie," said Skirton, who was presented
a commemorative plaque as coach to the 2016 Champion. "She kept her
composure throughout and had a clean competition. I couldn't ask
for more!"

Methuen will now have a day's rest before returning to the Echo
Arena on Sunday to compete once again in all four individual
apparatus finals.